I HAVE noticed the letters and articles about the disgraceful, callous and childish antics on the 501 bus route.

I think that because part of this circular route services the Royal Bolton Hospital, this route is the most essential route in Bolton for people who do not have their own transport and need to get to the hospital, either to visit or use out-patient services Therefore, I believe that the section from Bolton to the hospital should run 24 hours every day of year. I would say at this point I could never see the point of the all-night bus to Manchester.

With the above points in mind, I would prefer the following as a possible solution:

1. First Bus and Arriva run services on alternate days. They could not then say the other has the best days.

2. Midnight to 7am hourly.

3. 7am to 9pm quarter hourly. Extra buses being run for peak visiting, clearly marked, to different rate from normal service buses, and these to run only to hospital and back to town.

4. 9pm to midnight, half-hourly.

5. Each company's day to run midnight to midnight.

6. Both services to agree a common price for this one route.

People would then know that if they get to Bolton, they can then proceed to the hospital at any hour however unexpected.

In view of the recent changes and cancellations (I think here of the 536 and 537) that cause great anguish to both young and old, this would at least allay the growing suspicion that paying passengers are becoming an encumbrance to bus companies.

It is a great pity that Bolton council do not have the power, and the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority or Executive seem to have neither the power nhor the will, to resolve this current childish behaviour.

Mike Straw, Maze Street, Darcy Lever